Toolman

Loaf 21.5 × 11.5 cm / 8½ × 4½ in vs Loaf 23 × 13 cm / 9 × 5 in

Loaf 21.5 × 11.5 cm / 8½ × 4½ inLoaf 23 × 13 cm / 9 × 5 in
Size22 × 12 cm23 × 13 cm
Base area247.3 cm²299 cm²
Usual depth7 cm7 cm
Holds1.61 L2.09 L

Can you swap them?

Scale the mixture, or accept a flatter cake. Loaf 23 × 13 cm / 9 × 5 in has 20.9% more area, so a Loaf 21.5 × 11.5 cm / 8½ × 4½ in mixture poured straight in sits 83% as deep. It still bakes, and it browns more at the edges for being shallower. Multiplying by 1.21 restores the depth the recipe was written for.

Scaling the recipe

Recipe written forBaked inMultiply byOr leave it and get
Loaf 21.5 × 11.5 cm / 8½ × 4½ inLoaf 23 × 13 cm / 9 × 5 in1.2183% of the depth
Loaf 23 × 13 cm / 9 × 5 inLoaf 21.5 × 11.5 cm / 8½ × 4½ in0.83121% of the depth

Multiply every ingredient, including the eggs — round to the nearest half egg and adjust the liquid rather than rounding a whole one up.

Baking time

A mixture 83% as deep is done earlier, not cooler. Leave the temperature alone, start testing at about 83% of the stated time, and let the skewer decide. Why depth sets the time and diameter barely does →

Frequently asked questions

Can I use a Loaf 23 × 13 cm / 9 × 5 in instead of a Loaf 21.5 × 11.5 cm / 8½ × 4½ in?

Yes, with the mixture multiplied by 1.21. Loaf 23 × 13 cm / 9 × 5 in has 299 cm² of base against 247.3 cm², so an unscaled Loaf 21.5 × 11.5 cm / 8½ × 4½ in recipe sits 83% as deep and bakes faster.

What is the difference between a Loaf 21.5 × 11.5 cm / 8½ × 4½ in and a Loaf 23 × 13 cm / 9 × 5 in?

Loaf 21.5 × 11.5 cm / 8½ × 4½ in has a base area of 247.3 cm² and Loaf 23 × 13 cm / 9 × 5 in has 299 cm² — Loaf 23 × 13 cm / 9 × 5 in is 20.9% larger. At their usual depths they hold 1.61 L and 2.09 L.

Do I need to change the baking time between a Loaf 21.5 × 11.5 cm / 8½ × 4½ in and a Loaf 23 × 13 cm / 9 × 5 in?

Yes. Moving a Loaf 21.5 × 11.5 cm / 8½ × 4½ in mixture into Loaf 23 × 13 cm / 9 × 5 in makes it 83% as deep, so start checking at about 83% of the stated time. Depth drives baking time far more than tin diameter does.

Loaf 21.5 × 11.5 cm / 8½ × 4½ in in full · Loaf 23 × 13 cm / 9 × 5 in in full · All tin comparisons · All baking tin sizes